as molly line reports, today, the vatican blasted back at the reports. >> reporter: pope benedict xvi, praying with cardinals on the last day of lenten religious services. but outside the spiritual haven, a storm is brewing. the vatican is lashing out at the italian media for a string of what they call, quote, defamatory falsified reports. >> it is deplorable that as we draw closer to the time of the beginning of the conclave and the cardinal electors will be held in conscience and before god to freely indicate their choice, that there be a widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable, or completely false news stories. >> reporter: italian newspapers in recent days have suggested a secret dossier prepared by the pope, alleging a series of scandals involving sex, money and power, even suggesting a, quote, shadowy gay lobby in the vatican. there's speculation in the italian media the content of the dossier is what caused pope benedict to resign. >> this is not about suing and legal action right now. it's a call to truthfulness and authenticity of the journalists and profess